Basic Facts About Neon Tetras
| Scientific Family: | Characidae |
| Number of Clownfish Species Types: | There are around 10 types of fish that are currently referred to as Neon Tetras, including Green Neon Tetras, Black Neon Tetras and Gold Neon Tetras |
| Average Life Span: | The Typical lifespan for Neon Tetras is roughly five years. However, Neon Tetras have been known to live as long as 8 years in some instances! |
| Typical Size: | Neon Tetras are a smaller species of tetra, the largest Neon Tetras will reach about 1.5 inches in length. They will generally be between ¾ and 1 inch when they’re purchased at a typical pet store. |
| Colors: | Neon Tetras are some of the most desirable species in the aquarium trade due to their bright blue and red coloration. They range from a lighter blue to a deeper royal blue color stretching from their eyes to just above their caudal fins. A strip of bright red extends from their tail to the middle of their bodies. Other less common variations of neon tetras can have a greenish tinge to their bodies. |
| Native To: | Neon tetras naturally occur in the Amazon & Rio Orinoco river basins of South America. Their jungle origins make them a great candidate for a densely planted aquarium. |
| Water Conditions Needed: | Temperature: 69-79°F PH Level: While Neon Tetras can live in PH as low as 5.5 or as high as 7.5, they naturally occur in slightly acidic water and thrive around a 6.5 |
| What Do Neon Tetras Eat?: | Neon Tetras are naturally omnivores and in the wild eat plant detritus and small crustaceans. In the home aquarium, they’ll eat a variety of food from flakes to frozen brine shrimp. As with most fish in the aquarium, a varied diet can help your fish thrive. |
| Fish-Keeping Experience Level: | Neon Tetras are some of the easiest fish to keep in the home aquarium. Given their bright colors and active behavior, Neon Tetras make great first fish for any new fish keeper. Neons can be a great way to get a child into the hobby! |
| Minimum Tank Size: | Neons are social creatures and prefer to live in a school of at least 6 fish. Because one Neon won’t thrive on its own, our recommendation is to keep a school of neons in at least a 10 gallon aquarium. |
| Tank Accessory Requirements: | Neons are fairly easy to keep and require little accessories for their tank. They will do well in a densely planted tank with plenty of caves & crevices to explore. A few stem plants and a bit of driftwood will help mimic their natural South American environment. |
| Compatibility – Other Fish: | Given their small size, one should use caution selecting tank mates for Neon Tetras. Other tetras and peaceful scavengers make great tank mates for Neon Tetras, while Angelfish or other cichlids will make a quick snack of Neon Tetras. Our recommendation would be to keep Neon Tetras with other small tetras, such as Lemon Tetras, Rummynose Tetras, Cardinal Tetras. You can also keep them with a few bottom dwellers, such as Cory Catfish or Bristlenose Plecos. |
| Compatibility – Plants and Corals: | We recommend keeping your Neon Tetras in a planted tank. Plants such as java fern, Bacopa or variations of Rotala or Hygrophilia make excellent tank mates for Neons. |
| Compatibility – Do not Keep With These Species: | Avoid larger, more aggressive fish for Neon Tetra tankmates. Fish such as Angelfish will make a quick snack of Neons. In general South American and African cichlids are not suitable tankmates for Neon Tetras. |
| Can you breed them? | Neon Tetras are difficult to breed in home aquariums. They are egg spawners that scatter their eggs throughout the tank. If you’re planning to try and breed Neon Tetras, we would recommend marble substrate so that the tiny eggs can fall through the cracks to be collected from the glass below. |
| Fun Fact: | There are over 1 Million Neon Tetras imported to the United States every year! |
| How Much Will a Neon Tetra Cost: | Neon’s are some of the most readily available fish out there for aquarists. The average pet store will likely offer Neons in a range of $1.99 to $2.99 for each. |
How will a Neon Tetras behave in your aquarium?
Neon Tetras are peaceful schooling fish. They thrive in groups of six or more and will generally stay within the middle of the tank. Neons thrive in planted tanks and will enjoy exploring amongst any plants that you have. During feeding, they’ll swim to the surface but prefer to spend the majority of the time in the middle range of the tank.
How to acclimate your Neon Tetra to your fish tank?
Neons can be acclimated by the floating method, detailed below. As Neon Tetras are very hardy fish, they are easy to acclimate to your home aquarium.
Floating Method:
Step 1: Place the bag with your Neon Tetras in your aquarium & cut off the lights. While they likely had the light on in the pet store, keeping them close to the lights of your tank may unintentionally heat the water in their bag more than you wanted to.
Step 2: Let the bag float for 10-15 minutes to reach the same temperature as the tank.
Step 3: Cut a small hole in the bag and allow some of the water from your aquarium to flow in until it makes up roughly half of the water in the bag. Allow the bag to continue to float for about 5 more minutes, this will allow the Neon Tetras to ease into the water parameters of your tank
Step 4: Release the Neon Tetras into your tank!
Which Species Are Best To Pair With Your Neon Tetra?
- Small Tetras, such as Lemon Tetras, Rummynose Tetras or Cardinal Tetras
- Guppies or other smaller livebearers
- Bristlenose Plecostomus
- Small barbs, such as cherry barbs
- Cory catfish
Most Common Types of Neon Tetras:
- Neon Tetras
- LongFin Neon Tetras
- Green Neon Tetras
- Albino Neon Tetras
Ohfishal Neon Tetra Fish Tank Set Up
This is our ultimate checklist for a set up for Neon Tetras. Below is everything you need for a great habitat for Neons! Of course, you can do this with less parts, or different parts, but this is our all-in ohfishal recommendation. This set-up will run you around $140 (market prices will vary).
- Fish Tank, Light, Heater, and Filter – 10 Gallon Aqueon Starter Kit – $65
- Species
- Fish: 6 Neon Tetras ($12-18, at your local fish store). 6 Cory Catfish, albino or bronze corys will work great ($30)
- Rotala ($4/Bunch), Java Fern ($5), Small Driftwood ($10-15)
Frequently Asked Questions about Neon Tetras
Neons go well with other small tetras, such as Rummynose Tetras, Lemon Tetras or Cardinal Tetras.
Neon Tetras generally live roughly 5 years but can live as long as 8 years in the home aquarium.
Neon Tetras are difficult to breed as they lay very tiny eggs that are often eaten.
Neon Tetras are some of the most affordable fish in the aquarium trade, ranging from $1.99 to $2.99 on average.
Neon Tetras will generally grow to about 1.5 inches. Most Neons will be just over an inch long.
